Note 5 - Long-Term Debt and Credit Facility	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]	5. LONG-TERM DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITY Financing Arrangements On August 31, 2011, the Company entered into a new $500.0 million credit facility (the “New Credit Facility”) with a syndicate of banks, with Bank of America, N.A. serving as the administrative agent and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. serving as the syndication agent. The New Credit Facility consists of a $250.0 million five-year revolving credit line and a $250.0 million five-year term loan facility. The entire amount of the term loan was drawn by the Company on August 31, 2011 for the following purposes: (1) to pay the $115.8 million cash closing purchase price of the Company’s acquisition of Fyfe NA, which closed on August 31, 2011 (see Note 1 for additional detail regarding this acquisition); (2) to retire $52.5 million in indebtedness outstanding under the Company’s prior credit facility; (3) to redeem the Company’s $65.0 million, 6.54% Senior Notes, due April 2013, and to pay the associated $5.7 million make-whole payment due in connection with the redemption of the Senior Notes; and (4) to fund expenses associated with the New Credit Facility and the Fyfe NA transaction. In connection with the New Credit Facility, the Company paid $4.1 million in arrangement and up-front commitment fees that will be amortized over the life of the New Credit Facility. Generally, interest will be charged on the principal amounts outstanding under the New Credit Facility at the British Bankers Association LIBOR rate plus an applicable rate ranging from 1.50% to 2.50% depending on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio. The Company also can opt for an interest rate equal to a base rate (as defined in the credit documents) plus an applicable rate, which also is based on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio. The applicable LIBOR borrowing rate (LIBOR plus Company’s applicable rate) as of March 31, 2012 was approximately 2.72%. In November 2011, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement, for a notional amount of $83.0 million, which is set to expire in November 2014. The swap notional amount mirrors the amortization of $83.0 million of the Company’s original $250.0 million term loan from the New Credit Facility. The swap requires the Company to make a monthly fixed rate payment of 0.89% calculated on the amortizing $83.0 million notional amount, and provides for the Company to receive a payment based upon a variable monthly LIBOR interest rate calculated on the amortizing $83.0 million notional amount. The annualized borrowing rate of the swap at March 31, 2012 was approximately 2.49%. The receipt of the monthly LIBOR-based payment offsets a variable monthly LIBOR-based interest cost on a corresponding $83.0 million portion of the Company’s term loan from the New Credit Facility. This interest rate swap is used to hedge the interest rate risk associated with the volatility of monthly LIBOR rate movement, and is accounted for as a cash flow hedge. During the first quarter of 2012, the Company borrowed $26.0 million on the line of credit under the New Credit Facility in order to fund the purchase of Fyfe Asia on April 5, 2012 and for working capital and joint venture investments. See Note 1 for additional detail regarding this acquisition. The Company’s total indebtedness at March 31, 2012 consisted of $237.5 million outstanding from the original $250.0 million term loan under the New Credit Facility, $26.0 million on the line of credit under the New Credit Facility and $1.0 million of third party notes and bank debt in connection with the working capital requirements of Insituform Pipeline Rehabilitation Private Limited, the Company’s Indian joint venture (“Insituform-India”). In connection with the formation of Bayou Perma-Pipe Canada, Ltd. (“BPPC”), the Company and Perma-Pipe Canada, Inc. loaned the joint venture an aggregate of $8.0 million for the purchase of capital assets and for operating purposes. Additionally, during the quarter ended March 31, 2012, both entities agreed to loan the joint venture an aggregate of $2.0 million for the purchase of capital assets increasing the total to $10.0 million. As of March 31, 2012, $5.2 million of such amount was designated in the consolidated financial statements as third-party debt. As of March 31, 2012, the Company had $20.9 million in letters of credit issued and outstanding under the New Credit Facility. Of such amount, $11.1 million was collateral for the benefit of certain of our insurance carriers and $9.8 million was for letters of credit or bank guarantees of performance or payment obligations of foreign subsidiaries. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term debt was approximately $265.2 million and $245.1 million, respectively. Fair value was estimated using market rates for debt of similar risk and maturity and a discounted cash flow model, which are based on Level 3 inputs as defined in Note 8. The Company’s total indebtedness at December 31, 2011 consisted of $243.8 million outstanding from the original $250.0 million term loan under the New Credit Facility and $1.5 million of third party notes and bank debt in connection with the working capital requirements of Insituform-India. In connection with the formation of BPPC, the Company and Perma-Pipe Canada, Inc. loaned the joint venture an aggregate of $8.0 million for the purchase of capital assets and for operating purposes. As of December 31, 2011, $4.1 million of such amount was designated in the consolidated financial statements as third-party debt. Debt Covenants The New Credit Facility is subject to certain financial covenants, including a consolidated financial leverage ratio, consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio and consolidated net worth threshold. Subject to the specifically defined terms and methods of calculation as set forth in the New Credit Facility’s credit agreement, the financial covenant requirements, as of each quarterly reporting period end, are defined as follows: Consolidated financial leverage ratio compares consolidated funded indebtedness to New Credit Facility defined income. The initial maximum amount was not to exceed 3.00 to 1.00 and will decrease periodically at scheduled reporting periods to not more that 2.25 to 1.00 beginning with the quarter ending period June 30, 2014. At March 31, 2012, the Company’s consolidated financial leverage ratio was 2.43 to 1.00 and, using the current New Credit Facility defined income, the Company had the capacity to borrow up to approximately $64.0 million of additional debt. Consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio compares New Credit Facility defined income to New Credit Facility defined fixed charges with a minimum permitted ratio of not less than 1.25 to 1.00. At March 31, 2012, the Company’s fixed charge coverage ratio was 2.05 to 1.00. New Credit Facility defined consolidated net worth of the Company shall not at any time be less than the sum of 80% of the New Credit Facility defined consolidated net worth as of December 31, 2010, increased cumulatively on a quarterly basis by 50% of consolidated net income, plus 100% of any equity issuances. The current minimum consolidated net worth is $505.2 million. At March 31, 2012, the Company’s consolidated net worth was $646.6 million. At March 31, 2012, the Company was in compliance with all of its debt and financial covenants as required under the New Credit Facility.

Note 5 - Long-Term Debt and Credit Facility

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

5. LONG-TERM DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITY

Financing Arrangements

On August 31, 2011, the Company entered into a new $500.0 million credit facility (the “New Credit Facility”) with a syndicate of banks, with Bank of America, N.A. serving as the administrative agent and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. serving as the syndication agent. The New Credit Facility consists of a $250.0 million five-year revolving credit line and a $250.0 million five-year term loan facility. The entire amount of the term loan was drawn by the Company on August 31, 2011 for the following purposes: (1) to pay the $115.8 million cash closing purchase price of the Company’s acquisition of Fyfe NA, which closed on August 31, 2011 (see Note 1 for additional detail regarding this acquisition); (2) to retire $52.5 million in indebtedness outstanding under the Company’s prior credit facility; (3) to redeem the Company’s $65.0 million, 6.54% Senior Notes, due April 2013, and to pay the associated $5.7 million make-whole payment due in connection with the redemption of the Senior Notes; and (4) to fund expenses associated with the New Credit Facility and the Fyfe NA transaction. In connection with the New Credit Facility, the Company paid $4.1 million in arrangement and up-front commitment fees that will be amortized over the life of the New Credit Facility.

Generally, interest will be charged on the principal amounts outstanding under the New Credit Facility at the British Bankers Association LIBOR rate plus an applicable rate ranging from 1.50% to 2.50% depending on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio. The Company also can opt for an interest rate equal to a base rate (as defined in the credit documents) plus an applicable rate, which also is based on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio. The applicable LIBOR borrowing rate (LIBOR plus Company’s applicable rate) as of March 31, 2012 was approximately 2.72%.

In November 2011, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement, for a notional amount of $83.0 million, which is set to expire in November 2014. The swap notional amount mirrors the amortization of $83.0 million of the Company’s original $250.0 million term loan from the New Credit Facility. The swap requires the Company to make a monthly fixed rate payment of 0.89% calculated on the amortizing $83.0 million notional amount, and provides for the Company to receive a payment based upon a variable monthly LIBOR interest rate calculated on the amortizing $83.0 million notional amount. The annualized borrowing rate of the swap at March 31, 2012 was approximately 2.49%. The receipt of the monthly LIBOR-based payment offsets a variable monthly LIBOR-based interest cost on a corresponding $83.0 million portion of the Company’s term loan from the New Credit Facility. This interest rate swap is used to hedge the interest rate risk associated with the volatility of monthly LIBOR rate movement, and is accounted for as a cash flow hedge.

During the first quarter of 2012, the Company borrowed $26.0 million on the line of credit under the New Credit Facility in order to fund the purchase of Fyfe Asia on April 5, 2012 and for working capital and joint venture investments. See Note 1 for additional detail regarding this acquisition.

The Company’s total indebtedness at March 31, 2012 consisted of $237.5 million outstanding from the original $250.0 million term loan under the New Credit Facility, $26.0 million on the line of credit under the New Credit Facility and $1.0 million of third party notes and bank debt in connection with the working capital requirements of Insituform Pipeline Rehabilitation Private Limited, the Company’s Indian joint venture (“Insituform-India”). In connection with the formation of Bayou Perma-Pipe Canada, Ltd. (“BPPC”), the Company and Perma-Pipe Canada, Inc. loaned the joint venture an aggregate of $8.0 million for the purchase of capital assets and for operating purposes. Additionally, during the quarter ended March 31, 2012, both entities agreed to loan the joint venture an aggregate of $2.0 million for the purchase of capital assets increasing the total to $10.0 million. As of March 31, 2012, $5.2 million of such amount was designated in the consolidated financial statements as third-party debt.

As of March 31, 2012, the Company had $20.9 million in letters of credit issued and outstanding under the New Credit Facility. Of such amount, $11.1 million was collateral for the benefit of certain of our insurance carriers and $9.8 million was for letters of credit or bank guarantees of performance or payment obligations of foreign subsidiaries.

At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term debt was approximately $265.2 million and $245.1 million, respectively. Fair value was estimated using market rates for debt of similar risk and maturity and a discounted cash flow model, which are based on Level 3 inputs as defined in Note 8.

The Company’s total indebtedness at December 31, 2011 consisted of $243.8 million outstanding from the original $250.0 million term loan under the New Credit Facility and $1.5 million of third party notes and bank debt in connection with the working capital requirements of Insituform-India. In connection with the formation of BPPC, the Company and Perma-Pipe Canada, Inc. loaned the joint venture an aggregate of $8.0 million for the purchase of capital assets and for operating purposes. As of December 31, 2011, $4.1 million of such amount was designated in the consolidated financial statements as third-party debt.

Debt Covenants

The New Credit Facility is subject to certain financial covenants, including a consolidated financial leverage ratio, consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio and consolidated net worth threshold. Subject to the specifically defined terms and methods of calculation as set forth in the New Credit Facility’s credit agreement, the financial covenant requirements, as of each quarterly reporting period end, are defined as follows:

Consolidated financial leverage ratio compares consolidated funded indebtedness to New Credit Facility defined income. The initial maximum amount was not to exceed 3.00 to 1.00 and will decrease periodically at scheduled reporting periods to not more that 2.25 to 1.00 beginning with the quarter ending period June 30, 2014. At March 31, 2012, the Company’s consolidated financial leverage ratio was 2.43 to 1.00 and, using the current New Credit Facility defined income, the Company had the capacity to borrow up to approximately $64.0 million of additional debt.

Consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio compares New Credit Facility defined income to New Credit Facility defined fixed charges with a minimum permitted ratio of not less than 1.25 to 1.00. At March 31, 2012, the Company’s fixed charge coverage ratio was 2.05 to 1.00.

New Credit Facility defined consolidated net worth of the Company shall not at any time be less than the sum of 80% of the New Credit Facility defined consolidated net worth as of December 31, 2010, increased cumulatively on a quarterly basis by 50% of consolidated net income, plus 100% of any equity issuances. The current minimum consolidated net worth is $505.2 million. At March 31, 2012, the Company’s consolidated net worth was $646.6 million.

At March 31, 2012, the Company was in compliance with all of its debt and financial covenants as required under the New Credit Facility.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for information about short-term and long-term debt arrangements, which includes amounts of borrowings under each line of credit, note payable, commercial paper issue, bonds indenture, debenture issue, own-share lending arrangements and any other contractual agreement to repay funds, and about the underlying arrangements, rationale for a classification as long-term, including repayment terms, interest rates, collateral provided, restrictions on use of assets and activities, whether or not in compliance with debt covenants, and other matters important to users of the financial statements, such as the effects of refinancing and noncompliance with debt covenants.

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